GMOScience Responds to Forbes on Toxic Girl Scout Cookies

GMOScience Responds to the Forbes Magazine Article, Feb. 26, 2025, “Are Girl Scout Cookies Toxic? The Truth Behind The 2025 Recall Rumors.”

NOTE: This letter is in response to the article written by Stephanie Gravalese in the Lifestyle/Dining edition of Forbes Magazine.

The points made by Ms. Gravalese regarding our Girl Scout cookie study must be clarified.  Firstly, there was never an FDA recall of the Girl Scout cookies, nor did we ever state or promote that in our article.  Our intention is to make the invisible visible, with the goal of partnering with a major iconic organization like the Girl Scouts to institute real change in our children’s health and well-being.

We chose ubiquitous toxicants to analyze, which not only affect the Girl Scout cookies but are representative of all of the conventional foods consumed by our children.

Our team tested 25 cookies, sampling the cookies from 3 different states (Iowa, Louisiana, and California). We chose different states to demonstrate the level of contamination from different regions.  Indeed, we did demonstrate regional differences.

The following issues were noted and are extremely concerning.  Take note that we are independent groups and our reporting was based on testing from fully accredited labs.  We funded the testing and did not receive any outside monies.  The information is accessible in the article.

The fact that 100% of the cookies tested positive for glyphosate and its toxic by-product AMPA should be enough concern for alarm.  The cookies were found to have varying amounts of glyphosate and AMPA with the highest reported in Thin Mints® from Iowa, with a whopping 111.07 ppb.  Several studies have shown that fatty liver (NAFLD) occurs in rats following exposure to ultra-low doses of glyphosate.  Glyphosate has been shown to cause autism in rats studies, also at low doses.  There are many toxicities from glyphosate-based herbicides and this is just a small example of the host of health problems arising from consuming glyphosate.

I co-wrote the book titled, What’s Making our Children Sick? based on the consumption and toxicity from consuming GMOs and their associated pesticides, working with my own patients while doing extensive research with my co-author, UCSF medical anthropologist, Dr. Vincanne Adams.  Removing GMOs/pesticides from my patients’ diets reversed many chronic health disorders.  Frankly, the results were stunning.

For this project, we assessed 5 toxic metals (arsenic is a metalloid and not truly a heavy metal by definition), including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, and mercury.  One hundred percent of the 25 cookies contained 4 of 5 toxic metals with Peanut Butter Patties® having the highest level of lead at 42 ppb.

The EPA and the CDC agree that there is no safe level of lead for children.  If a child ate 6 cookies, they would receive 252 ppb of lead!  Who would think this is acceptable?  Additionally, simultaneous exposure to multiple toxic metals and glyphosate contribute to epidemics of kidney disease now facing agricultural workers.  Is this the future we want for our children?

The EPA sets limits for glyphosate exposures which were calculated based on an adult weight and not for children, and is much higher than European standards.  However, there are global failures of regulatory assessment regarding glyphosate and all pesticides used in agriculture.

The FDA set up an action plan to reduce exposures to toxic elements from foods for children, Closer to Zero.  For example, from the FDA website regarding “guidance” for industry:

The action levels for processed foods regarding lead intended for babies and young children are as follows:

• 10 parts per billion (ppb) for fruits, vegetables (excluding single-ingredient root vegetables), mixtures (including grain- and meat-based mixtures), yogurts, custards/puddings, and single-ingredient meats;
• 20 ppb for single-ingredient root vegetables; and
• 20 ppb for dry infant cereals.

As mentioned, the Peanut Butter® cookie contained 42 ppb of lead, 4X the amount the FDA recommended in grain-based foods for kids.

Our report presents the opportunity for governmental regulators to take on the assessment of the foods consumed by our children and do further analyses, more than those reported in their present Total Diet Study, looking at levels of non-toxic and toxic metals.  Although 910 foods were assessed in the FDA’s own study, specific brands were not identified.  Once these analyses are conducted, we advocate not only for updated guidance, but for decisive regulatory action to ensure the safety and nutritional integrity of foods marketed to children.

There are several major areas of concern that have not been addressed by the Forbes article.  Any hazard to children, whether actual or potential, must be considered and analyzed as part of the WHO’s report on the Precautionary Principle.

The health and well-being of children must always take precedence over industry interests, including those that aim to support the development of young girls. Unfortunately, in the absence of full transparency from regulatory bodies and food manufacturers, many parents now turn to social media and podcast influencers to seek answers about the ingredients in their children’s food and the factors contributing to the rising epidemic of chronic diseases in youth.

Agreed, it is imperative that accurate, science-based information be readily accessible to families, ensuring they can make informed choices that prioritize their children’s long-term health.

Our research provides an opportunity to do more on behalf of our most vulnerable.  We have produced a Girl Scout Badge to support efforts by the Girl Scouts and others to feed our children organic, regenerative, nutrient dense foods and not cave to pressure by lobbying groups in the government and/or industry.

Ms. Gravalese, we challenge the FDA, the EPA, and the USDA that their ever-increasing levels of permissible toxicants in our children’s food supply are what’s making them sick.